Mud-guard attachment.



J. A. SAUER.

MUD GUARD ATTACHMENT.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 28. 1909.

Patented Mar. 15, 1910.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

SWAN/441106 Jasejbh A Same wv-wam/ a t J. A. SAUER.

MUD GUARD ATTACHMENT.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 28. 1909.

952, 144, Patented Mar. 15, 1910.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

JOSEPH A. SAUER, OF HAMILTON, OHIO.

MUD-GUARD ATTACHMENT.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. 15, 1910.

Application filed May 28. 1909. Serial No. 498.804.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, Josnrn A. SAUER, a citizen of the United States,residing at Hamilton, in the county of Butler and State of Ohio, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Mud-Guard Attachments,of which the follow-'ing is a specification.

This. invention relates to new and useful improvements in devices whichare adapted to be attached to the mud guard of a wheeled vehicle, andarranged to contact with the periphery of the wheels thereof to cleanlyremove the accumulated mud therefrom.

Another object is to provide a device of this character which may bequickly attached to the mud guard of vehicles now in use, and which willautomatically adjust itself to wheels of various diameters.

A further objectis to provide a cleaning or serapmg brush revolublymounted between the ends of parallel curved bars in such a manner thatthe same may be readily adjusted therein.

\Vith these and other objects in view, the present invention consists inthe combination and arrangement of parts as will be hereinafter morefully described and particularly pointed out in the appended claims, itbeing understood that changes in the specific structure shown anddescribed may be made within the scope of the claims without departingfrom the spirit of the invention.

In the drawings forming a part of this specification and in which likenumerals of reference indicate similar parts in the several views,Figure 1 is a side elevation of an automobile or other wheeled vehicleshowing my improved cleaning attachment secured to the mud guardthereof, the front of the easing being removed. Fig. 2 is an enlargedvertical section taken on the line 22 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is an enlargeddetail section through the lower end of the brush supporting arm,illustrating the manner of adjusting the brush therein. Fig. 4 is adetail view of the connecting rod, and Fig. 5 is a similar view of thecollar or sleeve which is adapted to be pivoted between the ears 5secured upon the end of the connecting rod.

Referring to the drawings, 1 indicates my improved attachment whichisadapted to be secured to the under side of the mud guard 2, asemployed upon vehicles now in use.

Side plates 3 are secured to the edges of the mud guard 2 and entirelyinclose and conceal my attachment from View, thus preserving theattractive appearance ofthe vehicle. The attachment 1 comprises theparallel curved bars 4 which are secured to the guard 2. A brace bar 6connects the bars 4 at an intermediate point and serves to strengthenthe same. The bar 6 is provided with an opening 7 at. the center thereofto receive the lower end of the rod 8, on the upper end of which isformed the plate 9 which is secured to the guard 2. Upon the lowerextremity of the rod 8 and below the bar (3. a retaining collar orsleeve 10 is secured by means of the set screw-11. A spiral spring 12 isdisposed upon the rod 6 between the plate 9 and the bar (3, and isadapted to absorb the shock or vibration which will be imparted to theattachment when the vehicle is being driven over rough or uneven ground.

The lower extremities of the curved bars 4 are provided with theopen-ended slots 13, in which is adapted to be inserted the end of thetransverse shaft 14. Upon this shaft is revolubly mounted a brush 15,between which, and the periphery of the shaft 14, a suitable bushing 16is dis osed. This brush is preferably composed 0 wire bristles of aslightly flexible nature which are adapted to contact with the peripheryof the vehicle wheel and remove the accumulated dirt therefrom. Theperiphery of the brush is eoncaved to insure its engagement with thewheel tire at all times. The shaft 14 is secured in the ends of the bars4 by means of the nuts 17 disposed upon the extremities of said shaftand the Washers 18 and the lock nuts 19 which engage upon the oppositesides of the bars 4. It will thus be seen that the frictional engagementof the nuts 19 and 17 with the sides of the bars 4, will prevent therotation of the shaft while at the same time the brush itself willsecurely hold the shaft 14 in the osition to which it has been adjustedand is perfectly free to rotate thereon.

It will be obvious that upon rotation of the vehicle wheel, the dirtwill be cleanly removed from the periphery thereof by means of the brush15 which is at all times held firmly in contact with the wheel. Thespring 12 is of such tensional strength that the brush will beimmediately returned to its position upon the periphery of the wheel,when the same is jolted therefrom by the vibration of the vehicle. Thestrength of the spring 12 may be regulated by adjusting the sleeve 10secured to the lower end thereof. Thus the frictional contact of thebrush 15 may be increased or decreased at the option of the user. It.will be understood of course that the rotation of the brush is such thata new wearing point will be constantly presented to the periphery of theWheel and at the same time the frictional engagement thereof will besutliraent to cleanly remove the dirt therefrom.

From the foregoingit will be seen that l have provided an attachmentwhich may be quickly secured upon mud guards as at present constructed,and which will very efficiently perform the functions for which it isdesigned. it may also be very cheaply manufactured and by itsadjustability is applicable to a large variety of vehicles. The partsmay also be readily replaced when the same become worn or broken, thusgreatly increasing the general durability of the attachment.

.l t will be noted that in either end of the bushing 16, suitable ballbearings are dis- )osed thereby reducing the friction created by therotation of the brush, to a minimum and greatly enhancing theserviceable quali ties of the attachment. The tension of the spring 12is so regulated that the pressure of the concave periphery of the brush15 on the periphery of the vehicle tire is just suflicicnt to remove thedirt without injury to the tire. There will therefore be but little wearupon the tire, and as the brush is located below the center of thewheel, the mud and dirt will be cleanly removed without the necessity ofgreat pressure of the brush upon the tire.

What is claimed is:

1. An attachment of the character described, comprising curved parallelbars pivoted to the under side of a mud guard at one of their ends, thefree ends of said bars having longitudinal slots formed therein, atransverse shaft adjustably mounted in said slots, means for securingthe shaft in its adjusted position, a brush rotatably mounted on saidshaft, the periphery of said brush being concave for engagement with theperiphery of a vehicle wheel, a. rod secured to the under side of saidguard and movable through the brace. bar, a spring disposed betwecn thebrace bar and the mud guard upon said rod adapted to tensionally F holdthe brush in contact with a vehicle wheel, and means carried by the rodto regulate the tension of said spring.

2. An attachment of the character described, comprising curved parallelbars pivoted to the under side of a mud guard, a brace bar connectingsaid parallel bars, open-ended slots in the lower extremities of saidparallel bars, a transverse shaft adj ustably mounted in said slots,means for securing said shaft in its adjusted position, a wire brushrotatably mounted on said shaft, the periphery of said brush beingconcaved longitudinally for engagement with the pcriphery of a vehiclewheel, a rod secured to the under side of said guard a spiral springdisposed upon said rod, said spring being adapted to bear upon saidconnecting bar to maintain said brush in frictional engagement with avehicle wheel.

3. An attachment of the character described, comprising curved parallelbars pivoted to the under side of a mud guard, a transverse connectingbar secured to said parallel bars, open-ended slots in the extremitiesof said parallel bars, a transverse shaft adjustably mounted in saidslots, means to retain said shaft in its adjusted position, a brushrotatably mounted upon said shaft, a rod having a plate formed at itsupper end secured to the under side of said mud guard, a spiral springdisposed upon said rod between said plate and said connecting bar andadapted to maintain said brush in frictional engagemei'it with thewheel, and an adjustable sleeve upon the lower end of said rod toregulate the tension of said spring.

In testimony whereof I atlix my signature, in presence of two witnesses.

JOSEPH A. SAlllClt.

\Vitnesses:

.ltussnm. U. Nnsm'r'r, llonacn C. SJ'IANK.

